Fastening device.



Ol E. MOOR FASTENI EV APFLIUATION F` mums, 1912.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

OLIVER ELMER MGCREA, 0F FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

FASTENING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Feb. 11,1913.

l.Application led January 13, 1912. Serial No. 670,994.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER ELMER Mc- CREA, a citizen of the United States, residthe shank of the bolt is automatically spread to form retaining means which will effectually prevent the withdrawal of the s ame.

A further and more speciiic object of the invention is to provide a bolt or spike having a split shank, the ends of the vsplit portions of the shank having their opposed faces sharply beveled or inclined to direct said split portions in opposite directions when the bolt is driven home, whereby all liability of the bolt working loose or being extracted is overcome.

With the above and other vobjects 1n view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter -fully described and claimed, and illustrated in thev accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a transverse section through a rail showing the same arranged upon a supporting tie and secured thereon by means of spikes or bolts embodying my improve-` ments; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the device; and Fig. 3 is an end view thereof.

For the purpose of illustrating the use of the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing a rail R arranged upon a supporting tie T. It will, however, be understood, that the embodiment of the present invention in a rail securing spike is only one of the many useful purposes to which the invention may be put, and the device may also be manufactured in the formof bolts, rivet-s and similar fasteners.

In the use of the illustrated embodiment `of the invention, openings or holes 5 are first drilled into the tie upon opposite sides ofthe rail base. These openings are of less depth than the length of the spikes and when the spike is arranged in the opening as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 1, the upper headed portion thereof 6 is disposed some distance above the top surface and effectually preventu its movement.

the beveled faces 9 are driven into the wood,

of the tie. The lower en d of the bolt is longitudinally split as indicated at 7 to provide the spaced portions 8 which are comparatively weak and will readily. bend when the spike is driven home. The ends of these spaced portions 8 of the spike have their inner faces sharply beveled or inclined as indicated at 9, such inclined faces `extending at an angle of substantially 45. The provision of these inclined faces also forms the sharp edges 10 upon the ends of the split portions8 of the shank of the spikeso that when the head of the spike is struck with a Sledge, the split end thereof will be driven into the body ofthe tie at the base of the opening therein. Owing to the inclined srarns TENT union faces 9 on the ends of the split portions 8 of l the spike, saidsplit portions are bent in opposite directions as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 1 and are extended through the tie laterally, the extremities of said split portions being disposed upwardly. The head of the bolt of course rests upon the edge of the base flange of the rail to hold said rail in position upon the tie the wood of the tie forms a wedge indicated at t which enters between the opposed faces of the split portions of the spike shank, and gradually forces the same apart.

From an inspection of Fig. l of the drawings, it will be readily seen that when thel spike has thus been driven to its effective position, the separated split portions there/ of will eflectually hold the same in the tie and lprevent the spike being withdrawn from the opening therein. Thus liability of lateral movement of the rail upon the supporting tie caused by the loosening of the spikes, is absolutely prevented. A bolt or spike constructed in the manner above described is extremely simple, maybe manufactured at very small cost 'and is strong durable and effective in practical use.l

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is n The herein described fastening device comprising a cylindrical. shank having a head on one end, the other end of said shank being longitudinally split for less `than onehalf of its length to provide spaced portions, the opposed faces of said spaced portions of the shank being disposed in parallel lrelation and having their ends oppositel)7 beveled at an angle of substantially 45 with relation to thelongitudinal axis of the shank, semiciroular sharpened edges upon the separated portions of said shank, said sharpened edges cutting into the material into which the shank is driven and the beveled faces thereof causing the separated portions -of said shank to spread apart and project the extreme ends of said separated portions up- Wardly substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiixmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.. OLIVER ELMER MCCREA.

Witnesses:

E. B. HEFFERNAN, ASA A GOURLEY. 

